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The outages show that when game libraries, subscriptions, and proof of ownership are tied to company servers, a backend failure can block sign-in, purchases, downloads, cloud saves, and even make paid titles appear missing or display ownership warnings. This illustrates the risk that losing access to a company’s online services can temporarily or permanently deny access to games you "own," a problem that becomes more acute as companies push toward digital-only distribution. Answered
Xbox servers go down just days after PlayStation outage, giving us a glimpse into our digital-only futureSome players reported games missing from their libraries entirely, and others saw ownership warnings on titles they had already paid for. Xbox Support acknowledged sign-in, library, and game launch issues during the outages. Answered
Xbox servers go down just days after PlayStation outage, giving us a glimpse into our digital-only futureNo. The article says a busted disc drive or a dead console did not erase a collection when physical media was the norm, whereas server outages can make a digital library look like it never existed and block access to purchases tied to an account. Server-side failures can make ownership and access unavailable across devices, unlike a single console hardware failure. Answered
Xbox servers go down just days after PlayStation outage, giving us a glimpse into our digital-only future… It's yet another frustrating reminder that paying for a digital product doesn't actually equate ownership — when licenses expire or servers are shut down, your purchased content might go right with them. …
… Read more : Amazon's Kindle restrictions deal another blow to digital ownership In a way, it's a reminder that digital libraries can have a shorter lifespan than physical media, and buying something online, even on Steam, grants you a temporary license that can be revoked at any time. …
… That said, the whole situation is a reminder of just how little control we have over digital ownership of video games and sheds light on how current video game platforms function. …
… The services may already be recovering after less than an hour this time, but it's a stark reminder of how fickle digital ownership truly is. …
… Answered Question 3 How do these outages illustrate risks tied to digital-only game ownership? …
… And in 2024, Sony deleted customers’ Funimation digital libraries despite Funimation previously claiming that customers would be able to access these digital copies “forever but” with “some restrictions.” Sony has also shown a wavering commitment to its digital stores. …
… Compared to where the medium was even a decade ago, digital video game ownership has come leaps and bounds. …
… This reminded many that digital "ownership" can be taken away at any time. …
… They also note digital purchases remove options to trade, sell, or lend a game that physical discs allow, contradicting past promises to "keep it forever." Related article "Sony deleting over 500 movies from PS5 libraries is a reminder that you don't really own anything in the digital age" is cited… …
… A digital-only future without ownership & customer protection law is unacceptable! …
